LOUGHBOROUGH travelled to West Bridgford for their latest Midlands 2 East (North) league fixture of the season and had to repel a last minute onslaught to run out victors.

Loughborough began well with a sustained period of pressure in the Bridgford 22. Boro were awarded penalty after penalty and the decision to opt for the scrummage rather than a shot at goal eventually proved correct as after a well worked set piece move, winger Greg Biddle skipped through the defence from 10 yards to score under the posts and Thomas Kirkby added the extras to make it 7-0.

Despite being on top for the majority of the next 30 minutes, it was Bridgford who sored next when the home side broke up a Loughborough attack and scored a try to make it 7-5 at the break.

Loughborough were dominating the game but not converting it into points until a set piece paid dividends - after a scrummage 10 metres out from the West Bridgford line, Loughborough’s number 8 Andrew York broke of the back and set up a ruck. The ball was quick but rather than utilise the numbers down the blind side, scrum half Adam Lee put his head down and sneaked under the defence to score and make it 12-5 to Loughborough.

This was the moment for Borough to turn the screw but Steven Sands was sent to the sin bin for tripping a West Bridgford player and it was time for Boro’s defence to stand firm while the team was a man down which they did admirably.

Shortly after he Sands came back on, Loughborough scored their third and final try of the match through hooker Stephen Duffus and Kirkby added the extras to make it 17-5.

West Bridgford’s full back embarked on a barnstorming run from the halfway line to score under the posts for a converted try to make it 17-12 with three minutes to go, but Loughborough held firm to clinch the win.